DVP-602CI: Reference Digital Video Processor and HDMI Switcher Features Silicon Optix HQV Realta Video Processing For Superb High Definition Picture Quality
$2,499.00
REALTA sxT2 HQV Processing
6 HDMI 1.3a inputs
Denon's DVP-602CI video processor and HDMI switcher solves two vexing problems facing HDTV owners. Most HDTV sets don't do a very good job of upconverting standard definition sources such as DVD, and many 1080p HDTV sets are similarly ill-equipped to correctly upconvert interlaced 1080i HDTV, cable and satellite signals, with artifacts such as objectionable jaggies spoiling the picture. And, with the growing number of HDMI-equipped sources, such as cable and satellite tuners, Blu-ray and HD DVD players and HD gaming consoles, most HDTV sets simply aren't equipped with a sufficient number of HDMI inputs. The DVP-602CI solves both problems, and features the top-performing HQV Realta video processing engine that provides near-HD picture quality with standard definition sources such as DVD, and allows pristine, artifact-free high definition reproduction. As well, the DVP-602CI features 6 HDMI inputs to accommodate a full suite of source components, along with a wide range of output resolutions to match the native resolution of any HDTV set or PC monitor.

does everyone agree that the HQV Realta is "better" and more capable than what Anchor Bay is doing for the dvdo vp50?

Absolutely NO. You are inferring that anything with the Realta is superior to the VP50. I totally disagree with that inference.

To explain both Silicon Optix and ABT have excellent SOCs/chips. Both have examples of impressive performance in devices. Reon in Toshiba XA2 and ABTs VRS in Oppos new DVD as well as in their own DVDO brand of video processors.

What is better depends on the implementation of the device manufacturer and I am sure there are examples of poor implementation as well.

I sure seems that the stretch is very limited to 33% if that is what it means. I agree the instruction manual is very sparce on the subject. I find having variable zoom is very useful for slightly different size screens and formats. I do own the 2500 BD player and it is great, but the feature set on the this VP is very limited for use in custom setups.

Watched 1080i (CBS) and 720p (FOX) as well as 1080i (NBC) football today and am happy to report excellent PQ for all. The best PQ for Sunday in my HT overall seen yet. Watched via OTA as well as D* Sunday Ticket. I experimented with the "enhancer" setting but ended up preferring it at zero.

Interesting email response that I received from IDT for those not following the other thread (I sure wish the threads would be merged!):

Hello Charles,

The Realta chip was not included in the Silicon Optix products acquired by IDT. For information on the Realta products, you may wish to contact Mike Poirier, GM of the Teranex division of Silicon Optix. You can reach Mike at mike.poirier@teranex.com

FYI for those not following the other thread 1080p24 conversion continues to work very well for me with the 602ci. Watched CSI last night (CBS D* HD DNS ch. 390) and 1080i->1080p24 was smooth and artifact-free throughout.

The 602ci is the only HDMI 1.3a VP at anywhere near its price point to include top notch scaling/deinterlacing for SD/HD sources as well as fully capable noise reduction (both MNR and temporal NR). It is the only unit I've had that actually provides consistent artifact-free 1080p24 from both SD/HD sources (including broadcast sources and even 480p/720p film sources). Additionally, it also happens to be well implemented HDMI 1.3a (6 independently configurable inputs including output res and dual output) ---fully functional with bug-free audio including multichannel PCM.

The 602ci is the only HDMI 1.3a VP at anywhere near its price point to include top notch scaling/deinterlacing for SD/HD sources as well as fully capable noise reduction (both MNR and temporal NR). It is the only unit I've had that actually provides consistent artifact-free 1080p24 from both SD/HD sources (including broadcast sources and even 480p/720p film sources). Additionally, it also happens to be well implemented HDMI 1.3a (6 independently configurable inputs including output res and dual output) ---fully functional with bug-free audio including multichannel PCM.

I've been following you on this and I'm impressed so far with what you and a few others have reported on this. I'll be keeping tabs on things. I appreciate the information.

I just wanted to tip my hat and let you know that there are plenty of lurkers like me out there paying attention.

Well, as I indicated in the initial review, the Realta/602ci is not absolutely perfect when it come to video deinterlacing. I've noticed slight jaggies when watching HD football/basketball (especially with near-horizontal lines ie. boundary lines or the teardrop-shaped "yards to go" overlay on NBC). It's roughly equal to ABT 2010, Pio Kuro and Gennum VXP in this regard (so still good performance), but not excellent. Reon, on the other hand, seems to do the best job at this of any deinterlacer I've seen. For now, for critical viewing of HD 1080i video sources, I'll use Reon to deinterlace (Integra DTC-9.8) and still allow the 602ci to do its magic with noise reduction. This will include the SUPER BOWL obviously.

It would seem logical that the Reon performance with video deinterlacing could be matched or possibly even surpassed with added tweaks to Realta's firmware. Denon, are you listening?

Yep, although technically not now. Both Reon/Realta used to be owned by Silicon Optix. Reon is now owned by IDT while Realta is owned by Teranex. At least this is the best I've been able to determine.

That's why I suggested that Realta should certainly be firmware-tweakable to equal or surpass Reon's performance with video deinterlacing.

The advantage/disadvantage to Realta is that its performance is very much software dependent. Reon's is more or less hard-wired into the chip. Thus, Realta's performance very much depends on its implementation and Realta can be more easily upgraded via firmware.

...The advantage/disadvantage to Realta is that its performance is very much software dependent....

The -feature set- as implemented by a video processor vendor is more flexible than the Reon because it is software programmable, but the actual raw video processing capability in the Realta (including de-interlacing performance) eclipses that of the Reon.

...The advantage/disadvantage to Realta is that its performance is very much software dependent....

The -feature set- as implemented by a video processor vendor is more flexible than the Reon because it is software programmable, but the actual raw video processing capability in the Realta (including de-interlacing performance) eclipses that of the Reon.

Nice to have a new face here. Thanks for the input.

I've read through various posts by oyfoo and Andy Kromkamp that indicate the same. However, "reading b/w the lines" so to speak, it would seem that tradeoffs are made. For example, asking the Realta to do more computations to improve diagonal filtering of near-horizontal lines may take away from processing power better used for noise reduction. I still feel that the algorithms could be tweaked to at least equal Reon in that regard without sacrificing NR performance, but that's pure speculation as I'm an amateur and not a software engineer.